… Orders Security Agencies to Arrest Troublemakers
The Osun State Government has clarified the recent Court of Appeal ruling, stating that it did not reinstate sacked local government chairmen, contrary to some reports.
In a statement issued on February 10, 2025, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, explained that the ruling merely dismissed a suit filed by the PDP challenging the October 15, 2022, local government election on technical grounds. The dismissal was based on the fact that the PDP had filed its case before the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) officially published the election notice.
However, Alimi emphasized that a separate case filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) had already resulted in the Federal High Court nullifying the same local government election. In its judgment on November 30, 2022 (Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/103/22), the Federal High Court declared the election unconstitutional and void, sacking all council officials elected in that process. The Court of Appeal, in its ruling on January 13, 2025 (Appeal No. CA/AK/226M/2024), upheld this nullification.
Given these legal positions, the government reiterated that there is no valid judgment reinstating the sacked council chairmen. Therefore, any attempt by former officials to return to office would be unlawful.
The Osun State Government has directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone attempting to disrupt the peace by forcefully reclaiming local government offices. Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLAs) have also been instructed to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing council secretariats.
Finally, the government reaffirmed that the upcoming local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025, will proceed as planned.
